Kia ora, Aotearoa! Welcome to the land of the long white cloud! That's what the Maoris, the indigenous people, call their New Zealand. This dream destination is not exactly around the corner from Germany. But anyone who has ever been there swears that the 30-hour flight to paradise in the South Pacific is worth it. Travel through New Zealand at least once in your life!
Natural wonders on two islands
If you get off the plane in Auckland, the country's largest city (population 1.3 million), and start your New Zealand vacation, you can slowly settle in. Between the many museums, theaters, restaurants, pubs and sailing harbors worth seeing, backpackers from all over the world are getting ready to swarm out. Because New Zealand's great sights, the natural wonders of the North and South Island, are the real destination of the trip, and the helpful locals, who call themselves Kiwis, are well prepared for this. There are cheap hostels everywhere, inexpensive menus and plenty of well-intentioned tips to ensure that the well-traveled guest doesn't miss a single sight. The Kiwis are proud of their beautiful country - and rightly so.
The South Island is an Eldorado for outdoor enthusiasts on trips to New Zealand. Right at the top near the coastal town of Nelson, the locals also go on vacation. Because in the three national parks, Nelson Lakes, Kahurangi and Abel Tasman, hikers can enjoy an untouched wilderness. Then it's downhill through the rainforest to the golden sandy beaches on the coast - so you can experience three climate zones in just one day.
Adrenaline shocks in Queenstown
After the hiking tour, take the long-distance bus - much cheaper than a rental car - to Queenstown. The "Pearl of the South" specializes in all things fast and furious: bungee jumping, jet boating and mountain bike tours through the mountains. Do you feel like a bit of peace and quiet on your New Zealand trip after the adrenaline shocks? Then why not: only around 300 kilometers away, on the rugged west coast, lies New Zealand's most famous fjord: Milford Sound. The splendor of this almost 15-kilometre-long body of water is best appreciated on a boat trip that takes you past rushing waterfalls and lush green cliffs. After a stop at the two glaciers Franz-Josef and Fox, you will be completely relaxed again. After all, there are only three glaciers in the world that are surrounded by rainforest - these are two of them.
On the North Island, you can get to know the culture of the indigenous people, the Maori. In the Bay of Plenty region, they demonstrate their ancient customs and traditions. The best known is the community of Whakarewarewa, where the people still live in pristine nature, in the middle of a geothermal field between hissing geysers and steaming holes in the ground. Visitors can visit the dwellings or the Marae, a cultural center where hakas - the respectful war dances of the Maori - are performed.
New Zealand: Travel to the "Lord of the Rings"
Just an hour's drive away, fans of Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" will get their money's worth. In Matamata, director Peter Jackson had the hilly Shire and Hobbit caves recreated for his film adaptation. The original set is now a cult pilgrimage site.
Just before the long flight home, you should definitely treat yourself to one last relaxation session on your New Zealand vacation. And two or three days at the Bay of Islands will transport you to another world. The 16-kilometre-long inlet is home to small, romantic islands with beaches so soft pink that you'll feel like you're in Elfland. Or like in Elvenland ...